Assessment of biosafety and biorisk management practices among medical laboratory students in two institutions in Uganda

• Published in: Biosafety and health 2022-12, Vol.4 (6), p.399-405
• Main Authors: Padde, John Roberts, Akiteng, Winnie, Edema, William, Mahjub Atiku, Saad, Tibyangye, Julius, Tekakwo, Job, Andruga, Cosmas, Hope, Derick, Musinguzi, Benson, Brenda Gesa, Jean, Amadile, Lawrence, Agondua, Robert
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biohazards; Internship; Laboratory biosafety and biorisk management; Laboratory practices; Medical laboratory students; Student entry category
• ISSN: 2590-0536; 2590-0536
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bsheal.2022.08.005

•Scientific questions: Medical laboratory science students report for internships with only theoretical knowledge of biosafety and biorisk management practices, predisposing them to a higher risk of laboratory hazards.•Evidence before this study: According to a 2014 survey in China, medical laboratory students at specialized levels always have a higher awareness of preventing hospital-acquired compared to direct entrant students. In Uganda, according to a 2017 biorisk management (BRM) survey by the Central Public Health Laboratory (CPHL), insufficient laboratory biosafety and biosecurity measures were found in most of the public and private medical laboratories. However, these facilities are used for medical laboratory students' internships.•New findings: In this study, we assessed the influence of entry-level students' adherence to practices and attitudes towards biosafety and biorisk management during the internship. Most (91.7%) of the students attended hospital internships, with 60.2% in BSL-2 laboratories and 70.2% rotating in all the core areas of laboratory medicine. The 8.3% who did not attend any internship were under the direct entry category. Training and clean-up procedures were associated with laboratory safety levels (P= 0.021 & 0.048, respectively). The direct entrants had no access to BSL-3 laboratories, and this category of students had a negative attitude towards internship attendance.•Significance of the study: Our results indicate that there is need to identify steps to be taken to reform the training of laboratory biosafety and protective consciousness among students. In addition, the training should direct students to operate standardized laboratory procedures and conduct biorisk assessments promptly and correctly, to guarante adherence to biosafety during clinical practice Medical laboratory workers handle clinical specimens, which are a threat of exposure to infectious agents. Notably, medical laboratory science students report for internships with only theoretical knowledge of biosafety and biorisk management practices, predisposing them to a higher risk of laboratory hazards. In this study, we assessed the influence of entry-level students' adherence to practices and attitudes towards biosafety and biorisk management during the Internship. An online survey tool was used to explore the practices and attitudes towards laboratory biosafety and risk management. Of the 96 students, 60 (62.5%) anonymous responses were received, and of t